With the loss of my battle with the Cold-Blooded Animal (Dr. Yeong), I had a plan in my mind: to take up Pure Chemistry in UTAR... however, the May intake was over and I had to wait until January next year and also, I came across ICT offering USM Pharmacy in Penang. So, I decided to go back home to Penang together with my cousin, Emily. Her boyfriend, Foo, drove his uncle's car back to Penang and I followed them. We set out at 8:30 p.m. and got stuck in the jam for 1 hour, reaching Sungai Buloh Hanging Restaurant at 9:30 p.m., had dinner, and set out for Penang at 10:00 p.m. At 12 something p.m., we reached Ipoh toll, and I SMSed the White Lady (Sue Zin) that I just passed her Kingdom. She replied that she was chatting happily with my 'wife'...
Finally reached home at 2:00 a.m.. This is one of the times that I fear home terribly. However, I felt relieved that my parents were already asleep. I sneaked into my room, bathed, and slept like a log. The next day, I went to Balik Pulau to find the ICT campus. It was a merry-go-round trip as the campus was in Sungai Rusa. It sounded familiar but I could not really remember where it was. So I went far and wide searching for the campus with my cousin, the Professor (Robert, Liang Wern). Finally, after turning here and there, we found it. However, it was closed, and the guard asked me to return on Monday. When I returned home that afternoon, my father was already at home. I got out of the car and he looked cool. So I spoke to him and nothing happened. My mother was also at home, she was behind, doing the dishes. I was afraid she would give me a lecture but in the end, everything turned out well.
In the evening, we had to get ready for my cousin's, Wei Leong's, wedding dinner at Paradise Beach Resort. At first, my heart was calm. However, when I reached the place, I saw Wei Leong and his wife, Shi Shi. Then there was Gwendelyn and her Singaporean boyfriend, Vincent, standing at the entrance also. Gwendelyn was busy introducing people to Vincent. Upon entering the ballroom, we were directed to our seats. Next to our table, my third aunt, Aunt Bee Choo was there with my granduncle, Uncle Tai Hai. I told her straight away about my story about me being terminated from the Pharmacy programme and she took it quite cool. She asked me also what my plan was, as usual, and I would continue explaining everything from the beginning again.
One by one, all family members from my father’s side arrived. Aunt Sharon came and was quite impressed with my new look as she preferred it to my previous. She told my mother that I’ve grown up and become more… erm… no need to say laa… hehe… Two people I feared most finally came: Uncle John (Kok Chuan) who stays in Sri Petaling, and Uncle Peng, my fourth aunt Bee Li’s husband, who is a pharmacist. They would ask me many things and I did not plan to let them know yet as I had not planned on how to tell them yet, so I kept quiet. Since Uncle Peng sat beside me, I couldn’t really eat. So I left the ballroom and went outside. There, I SMSed my friends and the CB Gang telling them how miserable I felt and how much I missed them. However, I sent to a wrong recipent. I was to send to Yen Shan (Ah San) and I sent to my cousin, Chu Chai (Ah Boy). So in the midst of my SMS conversation with Ah San, suddenly Chu Chai emerged with his girlfriend, Sylvene.
They talked to me a while regarding my feelings and problems. Suddenly Uncle John and my mother appeared and we stopped our conversation. Uncle John spoke to Chu Chai about some computer stuff while my mother asked me to go see Mr. Mak’s daughter who is studying Pharmacy in UCSI also (3rd year USM). I was reluctant to meet his daughter but he pulled me until I slid from my ground. Sylvene was surprised to see that also. After talking to his daughter, I went back to Sylvene and Chu Chai and continued talking. Then came Emily and after talking for a while, all of us went in to the ballroom. As I still felt awkward, I quickly left the ballroom again. This time, my same aged cousin, James (Jian Huat) came to me and we talked briefly of our lives so far shortly before Gwendelyn came and gave me a good counsel.
Finally, the wedding was over. How glad I was to learn that and when I reached home, I felt relaxed, but not totally happy… I miss my friends… I felt myself being useless… I felt failure overwhelming me… Wei Leong’s wedding day was the following day and all my family attended, except me… It was too hard for me to attend…
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